IGN.com|AskMen.com|Rotten Tomatoes|GameSpy|FilePlanet|TeamXbox|CheatsCodesGuides|GameStats|Direct2Drive

RottenTomatoes.com

Register | Log In | What is RT?
It's our 10th birthday, so you get presents!
Home Movies DVD Celebrities News Critics Photos & Trailers The Vine Forums
Box Office | In Theaters | Opening | Upcoming | Best Of | Certified Fresh | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
 
MOVIES / ON DVD / RADIO
Radio

Rate This Movie

Write a Review
See Pictures
Share This Movie
Add to List
Buy DVD
Buy Poster

Bookmark and Share

Radio (2003)

33%
23%
72%
N/A
N/A
N/A
33 %
Reviews Counted: 112 Fresh: 37  Rotten:75 Average Rating: 4.8/10
 
Consensus: The story is heavy on syrupy uplift and turns Radio into a saint/cuddly pet.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Theatrical Release: Oct 24, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $52,277,485

Synopsis: Radio is a dramatic and uplifting tale inspired by true events that focus on the mentoring relationship between a high school football coach (Ed Harris) and Radio (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) -- who his mother describes as "the same as everybody else, just a little slower than most" -- and how their... Radio is a dramatic and uplifting tale inspired by true events that focus on the mentoring relationship between a high school football coach (Ed Harris) and Radio (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) -- who his mother describes as "the same as everybody else, just a little slower than most" -- and how their unique friendship ultimately transforms the entrenched attitudes of a small South Carolina town. James Robert Kennedy (Gooding, Jr.) -- nicknamed ‘Radio’ because of his vintage radio collection and his love of music -- is a loner in Anderson, South Carolina, pushing his ever-present grocery cart up and down the streets. He speaks to no one and is rarely spoken to, until one day, Coach Harold Jones (Harris), one of the town’s most respected men, and coach of the popular high school football team, befriends him. Radio is suspicious at first. But Coach Jones is persistent, even enlisting the help of Radio’s mother (S. Epatha Merkerson). Jones’ friends and family are taken aback as well since, until he met Radio, all his energies were poured exclusively into football. Slowly, Coach Jones earns Radio’s trust and opens up a new world to him. He invites Radio to help out at football practice and during games and to sit in on his classes at school, despite the initial misgivings of Principal Daniels (Alfre Woodard). He also champions him to the football players, the students and faculty. Coach Jones’ life is also enriched by Radio, from whom he learns to value friendship and family ties as much as he does coaching football. Still, there are those in town who believe that Coach Jones’ devotion to the young man is distracting him from his duties as head coach of the football team. There are several attempts to have Radio barred from the classroom and, after his mother’s untimely death, remanded to a mental-health facility. Coach Jones valiantly fights off these efforts, but he is finally forced to make a difficult decision, which will impact both his growing friendship with Radio and his career as a football coach. Revolution Studios Presents A Tollin/Robbins Production Radio, a Columbia Pictures release. The film stars Academy Award® winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Radio and four-time Academy Award® nominee Ed Harris as Coach Harold Jones. The cast also includes Academy Award® nominee Alfre Woodard as Principal Daniels, S. Epatha Merkerson as Maggie Kennedy, Radio's mother and three-time Academy Award® nominee Debra Winger as Linda Jones, Coach Jones’ wife. The film is directed by Mike Tollin and written by Mike Rich. Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Herbert W. Gains are the producers. The executive producers are Todd Garner and Caitlin Scanlon. The director of photography is Don Burgess, ASC. The production designer is Clay A. Griffith. The film is edited by Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E. and Harvey Rosenstock, A.C.E. The casting is by Margery Simkin. The music is by James Horner. The costume designer is Denise Wingate. The music supervision is by Laura Wasserman. Radio has been rated PG for Mild Language and Thematic Elements [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Cuba Gooding, Ed Harris, Debra Winger, S. Epatha Merkerson, Riley Smith

Director: Michael Tollin
Screenwriter: Mike Rich
Producer: Michael Tollin, Herb Gains, Brian Robbins
Composer: James Horner

DVD Info

Release:

Jan 27, 2004

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English

Additional Release Material:

  • Featurettes - 1. FOOTBALL: IT AIN'T ALL FUN & GAMES
  • 2. TUNING IN: THE MAKING OF 'RADIO'
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Blooper Reel

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
T-Meter Critics
 
 
Top Critics
 
 
RT Community
 
 
My Critics
 
 
My Friends
 
 
DVD
 
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
Ratings Image
C

Despite the fine efforts of Harris and Gooding, Jr., Radio nearly drowns in James Horner's overbearingly sentimental music.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/06/07
Jeffrey Overstreet
Christianity Today
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Ratings Image
1/5

Awful from start to finish.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/11/06
Oz
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
3/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Ratings Image
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/14/04
Empire Magazine
Ratings Image
4/10

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/14/04
Anton Bitel
Movie Gazette
Ratings Image
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/11/04
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
3/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/11/04
Nev Pierce
BBC
Ratings Image
2.5/5

The screenwriter seems obsessed with introducing dramatic conflict, which feels both strained and convenient.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/18/04
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
N/A

Tune in for another formulaic feel-good story that will warm your heart and chill your mind.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/27/04
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly
Ratings Image
1/5

Feigns compassion for the mentally challenged, but treats Radio as a pet, a toy, a prop.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/15/04
Catharine Tunnacliffe
eye WEEKLY
Ratings Image
N/A

As large screen entertainment, this "Radio" is desperately in need of new batteries.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/11/03
John Larsen
Light Views
Ratings Image
2/5

As the principal says, "I'm not sure we're trying to help someone here, or whether you're using him as a glorified mascot." Exactly.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/30/03
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs
Ratings Image
3/4

this puts Cuba back into the Oscar race again, he's charming and wonderful -- although he plays a slow guy, which is surefire Oscar fodder

Full Review | comment Comment
11/25/03
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com
Ratings Image
3/4

This is the first time in 16 years I made additions to a movie review after I read other critics' reviews. I’m doing this not to change my stance, but to defend it.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/17/03
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
Ratings Image
1/4

Underneath the sugary sweet external coating of Radio is a cynical and pandering piece of hypocrisy.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/09/03
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
Ratings Image
4/10

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
11/07/03
Brian Orndorf
Modamag.com
Ratings Image
2/4

Gooding is never allowed to play a three-dimensional character but rather ... human currency to be handed around whenever a character needs his or her consciousness raised.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/04/03
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
Ratings Image
3/4

Feel-good themes and fine performances from Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Ed Harris make Radio a nice pre-holiday film.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/04/03
Leigh Johnson
Hollywood.com
Ratings Image
N/A

Like its title character, Radio broadcasts at a low, pleasant frequency.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/03/03
John P. McCarthy
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums

REEL_REVIEWER
RADIO - If this wasn't based on a TRUE story would anybody believe it?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/22/05


REEL_REVIEWER
RADIO - If this wasn't based on a TRUE story would anybody believe it?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/22/05


REEL_REVIEWER
RADIO - If this wasn't based on a TRUE story would anybody believe it?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/22/05


REEL_REVIEWER
RADIO - If this wasn't based on a TRUE story would anybody believe it?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/22/05


akondukov
Soundtrack
by: akondukov 6/2/04
all

Pictures

all

News

Wahlberg Ready to Soar With the Eagles
posted by Scott Weinberg April 14, 2005
Back in 1976, Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil held an "open tryout" to spice up his team. Although...

Around the Network

• Radio at Rotten Tomatoes
• Radio at IGN
• Radio at AskMen
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | ModCenter | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2008, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.